West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

Offense had been trending in recent Nationals / A's contests.   Tuesday night was no different as the host A's downed the Nationals 15-9.  

The Nationals loaded the bases in the first and threatened to push across the game's first tallies, but Curt Pryal's frozen rope was hit right at the left fielder to retire the side.

Not to worry, fans of offense....after a two run, two out single plated two first inning runs for Sheboygan, the A's erupted for seven more in the second to jump to an early 9-0 lead.   The Nats responded with the first of Matt Richer's four hits plating Kyle Kalkopf in the third, but the real excitement came in the fifth.

With two outs Matt Richer reached on an infield single.  After that, the next 7 Nationals reached base and when the dust cleared, Sheboygan's lead had been reduced to 9-8.   Curt Pryal (2 run single) Paul Archambault (RBI single) Jimmy Jungbauer (RBI single) and Kyle Kalkopf (3 run double) each delivered key blows.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Sheboygan responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.   A three run sixth and single run seventh put the game away. 

The Nationals have no time mourn the loss with important league games in West Bend on Wednesday night and in West Allis (Kuenn Field) against Pewaukee on Thursday night.   First pitch for both games is set for 7:30pm. 

Kyle Kalkopf scored from second on an infield fielder's choice in the eighth to give the Nationals the lead and the locals held on for a hard fought 7-6 victory over the rival Kenosha Kings.

The teams matched scores in first and fourth innings and the teams entered the 7th inning tied at 3.  In the bottom of the 7th the Nationals took a 5-3 lead with patience at the plate, but the Kings countered with 3 of their own in the top of the 8th to gain a 6-5 advantage.   The edge proved to be short lived as the Nationals plated two and held on for the win.

The Nationals offense was well-balanced with 9 different players contributing hits.    Mike Merritt led the way with a homer and 2 RBI's.

Curt Pryal went the first six for the Nationals, allowing no earned runs and striking out 6.   The win went to Tom Starck in his Nationals debut, throwing a scoreless final inning and two thirds and striking out 2.

The Nationals are back in action Friday night in Sheboygan against Wisconsin State League Divisional rival and Langsdorf Nite League member Sheboygan A's.  First pitch is set for 7:30pm. 

The West Allis Nationals broke open a tight game with an 8 run 4th inning en route to a 14-4 win over the West Bend 7 Up.   The contest was the first Wisconsin State League game for each team.

Matt Richer led the Nationals offense with 4 hits, including 2 doubles, and 6 RBI.   Jake Kosalinski and Cody Griebling added 3 hits a piece and Jimmy Jungbauer contributed 4 RBI's.

Curt Pryal earned the win, his second of the young season, going 5 innings, and the Nationals bullpen held West Bend scoreless the rest of the way.

Next up for the Nationals are the Kenosha Kings on Thursday May 28 at 7:30pm at West Allis' Harvey Kuenn Field in Rainbow Park. 

The West Allis Nationals offense never got going on Sunday in Marinette, and that, coupled with three tough breaks on defense led to a disappointing 8-0 loss in the trip finale.   Matt Richer led what there was of the Nationals offense with 2 knocks.   Starter Bobby Herrick, coming off a two inning stint Friday night, battled for the first four innings, allowing only one earned run.

Next up for the Nationals are the West Bend 7 Up in the Wisconsin State League debut for both teams.   The game will also be counted in the Langsdorf Nite League standings.  First pitch is set for 7:30pm at Zirkel Field in West Allis. 

The West Allis Nationals rebounded from a tough 5-3 loss to the Menasha Macs on Friday with wins Saturday against the Marinette Redbirds (4-1) and Menominee Storm (8-1)

The difference versus the Macs was a fifth inning grand slam that put the Macs ahead and they never relinquished the lead.

Game one on Saturday was tight until Nick Lingvay delivered a two run single to close out a 3 run sixth inning.   Starter Jimmy Jungbauer kept the Redbirds at bay in a complete game performance, allowing no earned runs while striking out 8.

The Natties put game two away early, scoring 7 runs in the first two innings against Menominee.  Brian Huntzinger led the offense with three hits, including a home run and knocked in two.  Matt Richer added two knocks and two runs.

The Nationals close out the weekend versus the Marinette Redbirds at noon on Sunday.